Did anyone manage without buying special maternity trousers?

[gingertoo]

I'm 19 wks pregnant with my 4th (and final!) child and didn't keep any maternity wear from my previous pregnancies.

Since getting pregnant I have lost over half a stone (baby fine and growing well, just been off my food due to sickness) so despite starting to have a little bump I'm still very comfortable in my pre- pregancy trousers and as they are all quite low waisted, probably will be for another 6 wks or so...

So bearing in mind that this is my last child and that I don't have much spare money, I'm starting to wonder whether buying actual maternity trousers to wear for such a short time is going to be a good idea...

So, did anyone manage without buying maternity trousers and if so, what did you wear??

Oh, I'm a 14/16 normally if that makes a difference

I have 1 pair of maternity jeans but that's it

The rest of my trousers are low waisted (have a pair of linen ones that tie under the bump)

Am wearing harem-style trousers (knee length) or leggings with dresses/smock tops the rest of the time

I'm 32w with DC3

I hate maternity clothes, I look like a heifer in them.

I wore zara jeans and trousers, non maternity. Very stretchy, just did up under my bump. They were far superior to any maternity clothes I had.

I wore tractsuits bottoms that were stretchy.

You may find there's a maternity clothes library near you - there is one here in Oxford, at any rate. I haven't tried it myself as I got a couple of low-waisted trousers from Gap, and also got given some mat clothes by a friend.

I also bought various things so I could keep using my old trousers - belly bands and belly belts. At 28 weeks I'm not really using the belly belts much but the belly band is still good.

Thanks

Hadn't thought about leggings but I do wear alot of dresses so that's a good thought.
What do you wear on your feet when you wear leggings?

Those of you who wear 'under the bump' non maternity styles, do they stay up ok during later pregnancy? I'm liking the idea of low-waisted linen trousers - might try some on at the weekend....

Oh and the 'belly bands' comixminx, are they those jersey panels? Are they any good?

Yes it's a stretchy panel - like the bottom of a t-shirt without the top part (and with some elastic to hold it up!). I've used it a few times and it is useful. I reckon that long tops are easier though, especially as I have quite a few already (and long/baggy tops are much more usable post-pregnancy).

Miss Selfridge have loads of good-priced linen trousers, in different colours

With leggings/dresses I wear sandals, Birkenstocks, wedges

i found the bump band things v good - cheap at topshop,and quite comforting to have over the bump! And help trousers stay up if wearing"under bump". If you want really cheap and cheerful stuff new look and peacocks do things like vest tops you can wear pretty much all way through and junk when baby comes.

I did.

Maternity trousers = waste of £.

I'm a size 12. Was that size before, during and after pregnancy.

Of course my belly got big, but my lower half didn't.

I think a lot of it is a marketing ploy. Oh, you're preg, so you must get these maternity clothes. Pah!

H&M is great atm for dressing a pregnant body!

(NOT the maternity section - 'tis shite)

I didn't have any for my second pg, and just one pair for my first. They were not any more comfy than my normal trousers and only really needed them in the last few weeks anyway!

I wore boyfriend style jeans that do up under the bump most of the time that my bump was really big, or leggings (get them for a couple of quid in primark if you need to go up a size). Most of my skinny jeans are stretch denim so i just squeezed my ass into them and then used a belt to keep them done up under my bump when i couldn't use the button!

Just got myself some nice longer tops to cover my bump and waistband, again non maternity but maybe a size up.

I didn't have any - I had a pair of jeans that did up under my bump until about 36 weeks, at which point I really didn't want to have to waste money on maternity trews. Then I just wore skirts & dresses. However, maternity clothes can run fairly cheap from Ebay, Asos etc.

Ozzy Osbourne style tracksuit bottoms x 1 pair. Used in public until I went back to my normal shape, then as gardening trousers.

Thanks - All great ideas

Have decided I will not be buying maternity trousers this time round!

Couple more questions if you don't mind.

Is 38 too old for leggings - I just mentioned that I might get some to wear under dresses to my friend and she gave me the face!
Where is the best place to get leggings? Hate to see them all baggy at the knees so recommendations of good stay-in-shape ones please!
And length? Ankle / crop / both??

I don't think 38 is too old for leggings!

I've got both ankle and calf length

From Next and Topshop

Can only wear once before washingagain though (to prevent the baggy-knee look)